Casting apparatus.



. E. B. VAN WAGNER.

CASTING APPARATUS; APPLICATION FILED MAR.28,1908.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908. 2 SHEBT SHEET 1.

RB. VAN WAGNER.

CASTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAB..28,1908.

Patented Oct. 13,, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.Dvmwrae.

Arias/vex ELBERT B. van WAGNER, or SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Specifieation'of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 13, 1908.

Application filed March 23, 1908. Serial No. 423,819.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, ZELBERT Van ao- NEH, a c tizen of the Umted States, residing at Syracuse, 1n the county of Onondaga and State of New York-,lmve invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casting Apparatus, of which the followlng 1s a specification'.

This invention relates to improvements in casting apparatus, designed for use in making what is known as finished metal cast- 1ngs, and the invention relates particularly to a casting machine in which the molten metal enters the moldsor dies under pressure. The object of the invention is to provide. a

casting machine which is simplefdnrable and powerful, and wherein the construction and arrangement of certain of its parts are such that a greater number of perfect casts ings may be produced in a given time, with less labor, expense andwaste, than are capa-- bio of being produced by any other maclnnes of thee] ass known to me, v

The invention consists principally of a fire-box or furnace, in which is disposed a melting-pot and a casting cylindercombined in one part, the cylinder having a plunger for forcing the molten metal into the mold.

The invention further consists of novel and simple means for clamping and holding the sections of the die in operative position, and for releasing and separating. the same for the removal of the 'astings.

The invention further consist-s of'mean's for heating the nozzle and passage through which the molten metal is forced from the casting cylinder into the lTlOlCl-S, to prevent the chilling of the unused metal and the clogging of said passage during the interval between the casting o mrations. v

The invention further consists in novel features and combinations of parts set forth in the detaildescriptionwhich follows and then ]):H'li('\il;lll v' pointed out in the claims,

rcfcrcucc bciug had to the accompauyiug drawings forming apart ofthis specification, and in which-- Figurev l'is a front cud elevation of the casting ap niratus, showing the location and arrangement of. the principal parts of the same. l i'g. S2 is-a side view, the upper portion in elevation, showing the-arrai-igemcut of the. di e oi-"mold clam .)iug and releasingparts, th'el-owcr portion in section, substantiallyot] the line 2-2 of'Flg. 1, showurgarrangemcntof. thecasti'ng cylinder and resection, substantially on the line3 3 of Fig.

2, showing location of the gas supply and exhaust pipe; also showing locationof melt ingpot and port through which metal flows to the mold. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the combined melting-pot, cylinder and nozzle. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing the cylinder and melting-pot; also showing the constructions and arrangement of the gasheater for the discharge passage and nozzle. Fig.- 6 is a central cross-section, substantially on the'line -6 of Fig. 5, showing cylinder and melting-pot made in one part.

Similar numbers of reference are assigned. to-corresponding parts throughout the sevcral figures. I p

In the drawings, 9. represents the casing of the fire-box or furnace, 3 the hollow interior, and .4 asbestos or likelining of the furnace proper. The furnace is preferably cast in one part having its upper side open.

5, 5 represent a series of ports in one side i 'inclosing the upper open side of the furnace, the-rear-end of which 18 provided with lugs 10 which are pivotally connected to corresponding lugs 11 formed on the rear end of the casing 2. The front end of the plate-9 is fastened during the operation of the machine by bolts 12 whih pass through the plate and into lugs fornlcd. on casing 2.

13 represents a casting cylinder disposed in-the fire-box, and preferably securedto the underside of plate 9 by bolts 14.

15 represents a metal melting-pot or part which is formed integral y on one side of the cylindehlfi, and he ring a large opening 16 at its upper end, which terminates in a three-. sided wall 17. adapted to pass through and extend an inch or more above the upper face of plate 9. The opening 16, is employed for 1 inserting the metal to be melted by the flame which heats the lower portion of the as is admitted by means of a common supply crates in the cylinder and by means of which" the molten metal is forced out of the cylinder during the casting operations. The

plunger is reciprocally operated by means of a hand-lever 20, which connects to the'plun ger by a forked extension 21 carried bythe plunger.

22 represents an opening in the front end of easing 2, through which the plunger is inserted and operates.

Lever 20 is pivotally mounted on plate 9 at 23.

25 represents a port disposed at or near j'the inner end of the cylinder for the discharge of the molten metal.

26 is a discharge tube cast with the cylinder' and forms a continuation of the port or passage25.

Heretofore machines for producing finished castings have given considerable trouble, because after each casting operation, a portion of the metal which remains in the discharge or casting tube and nozzle, which intervene between the melting-pot and the mold, becomes chilled and gathers until it clogs the passage, requiring frequent stoppage of the machine, and considerable delay and labor to clear the passage. In a majority of, these machines, the dies when set in working position are necessarily placed at some little distance from the melting-pot and casting-cylinder, and for that reason it has been impossible to maintain the proper temperature to prevent the metal from hardening and adhering to the inside walls of the discharge-tube and nozzle. To remedy this annoying' defect and prevent the setting of the metal and the ,cloggingof these parts, I provide an independent heater for the discharge-tube and nozzle, of novel and simple construction and operation, which consists of a perforated tube 27, disposed outside of and concentric to the discharge-tube 26, and

which is held in place by means of a raised portion 27 formed concentric to the tube 26. Outsideof the perforated tube is disposed a still larger tube or casing 28, which is dis posed concentric to tube 27. The lower end of this outer tube ispreferably secured to the top of the cylinder by threads, as shown- The three tubes, 26, 27 and 28 extend upwardly substantially an equal distance, and the two outer tubes are closed at their upper ends by a common cap'29, which is secured to the outer tube 28 by threads. The 11 )per end of discharge-tube 26 is beveled, an the h under side of cap 29 is countersunk centrally to vreceive the end of said tube, for the purpose of making a tight joint at that point.

39 represents. a nozzle which projects upwardly and is formed integrally on the up per face of cap 29. This nozzle is prefering of the discharge passage is accomplished by the burning of gas in the hollow spaces which occur between the tubes 26, 27 and 28. The gas is supplied to the chamber between tubes 28 and 27 by a feed pipe 32 which may be attached in any suitable manner.

33 represents a small opening in the opposite side of the tube 28 for use in lighting the gas, and 34 represents a part for covering the hole 33. The cover 34- pivoted to tube 28, and is intended to it loosely over the hole 33, so as to admit enough air to burn the gas. The gas in the space between tubes 27 and 28, after being ignited will send tongues of flames through the perforations, r

. discharge passage in tube 26 and also in the nozzle, thus preventing the metal from chilling duriu g and after each filling of the mold, and this heating will cause all of the unused metal to gravitate back into the cylinder each time the plunger is withdrawn.

The mold or die generally consists of two parts or sections, which are disposed in the machine one above the other, as upper section 35, and lower section 35. Before placing the halves of the die in the machine, they are secured to plates 36 and 36. Plate 36 to which the lower section is attached rests upon and is secured in suitable manner to a heavy support or plate 37 which is disposed parallel to, and a short distance above plate 9, to the rear end of which support. 37 is hinged, as at 38.

39 represents a large'circular opening disposed about centrally in support 37 through which cap 29 and nozzle 30 extend. Dicplate 36 is also perforated at -10 concentric to opening 39 in a manner to receive and tightly fit over the nozzle 30. lVhcu the die has been set in place, ready for casting, support 3'7 is disposed horizontally, as in .Figs. 1 and 2, and the Weight of the die and the other parts mounted upon the support. 37 will effect a tight seal between the nozzle and die-plate 36. The point of the nozzle passes through-plate 36 and its upper end becomes flush. with the top side of the said plate, i

v moved' reciprocally, for the purpose of' clamping andspreading the diesectionsrand 35 during the operation of the machine.

' upper section of the die, and when the two .sections are placed in operative position,

these ports form a continuous opening extending vertically through the said sections.

A port or hole corresponding to 44 also extends upwardly through the plates 36- and 41.

46 represents a gate, in the form of a plunger, whlch 1s operativ ely disposed in the upper passage 44', 1n such manner that its lower end is normally positioned at or near the upper side of the die cavity 43. -The upper end of gate 4(i,is formed into a fork 47, 'to which is pivotally connected a hand lever 48, one endof which is pivoted to an adjusting standard 4!),mounted upon support 41. The outer end of lever 48 is free and may be raised or lowered at the will of the operator for the purpose of operating gate 46. The dotted lines 48' represent lever 48 in its lower position to close .the gate.

50 represents a gage adjustably mounted upon a standard 51 carried by the support 41. This gage is employed to regulate the movementwf the lever 48, so as to prevent tlieugate 46 from beingaccidentally lifted out of the hole 44..

In preparing the machine for casting, after the die has'lieenset in position, the gas is first turned on'trom pipe (3, and enters the furnace through the ports 5. The operator may then light the gas by means of an-opening 52 in the end .ofcasing 2. The metal for the castings shouldbe inserted through opening 16 into the melting- )ot 15. As soon as the melting-pot and cylinder become sufliciently-heatcd to. melt the metal, the oper-v ator takes hold of lever 20 and pulls it outn'*ardlyaway from the machine. This operation drives the plunger into the cybnder and.

forces the molten metal. upwardly through tube 26, nozzle 30 and port 44: into the mold. cavity 43. i As soon as the cavity of the mold is filled, and while thcpressul'e is still. on, the operator should take hold of lever 48 and press it downwardly to position 48.

This latter operation forces gate 46' down wardly across or through the mold cavity 43 and closes .the passage 44,-thereby confining the metal in the mold. The gate is then left in the last position a few seconds until the metal comv rising the casting becomes-haw dcned. A tcr the gate is operated to cut off 43 represents a mold formed in the abut- 'n'ielting-pot.

the supply of metal, the operator should manipulate lever 20 in the opposite direction to withdraw the plunger and allow the cylinder to become recharged .with fresh molten metal from the pot 15 through port 18. Then the plunger is withdrawn the 'molten metal wlnchfilled the tube 26 while the pressure was on, will then gravitate back into the cyl- I inder, by reason of the heat produced by the burning gas in tubes 27 and 28. The port 18 which connects the melting-pot with the cylinder, is so positioned that when the plunger witlulrawn the inner end of the plunger just clears said port, and the first slight movement of the plunger into the cylinder closes port 18 and prevents the metal from being forced back into the melting pot.

After the metal in the mold has become har- 'dened, the gate should be withdrawn by the upward movement of the lever-48 and then the casting may be removed.

When the die sections are being set ,in place bet-Ween supports 37 and 41 the upper portion of the machine is usually tilted backwards on the hinges 38. When everything is in readiness for making castings these parts are again placed in upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 'They are then ,held rigidly in the last named position by means of a locking-part 53 pivotally mounted between supporting lugs 54 which are secured to the plate 9. The lock 53 is slightly eccentric andwhen set (as shown in Fig. 2) by means of handle 55, it engages a notch in the free end of plate 37 andholds the same rigidly in place. The nozzle, discharge-tube and heater extend some CllS- the nozzle and fall upon the said plate, the latter is recessed at '70 so. that the metal de scending from the nozzle will flow into the opening 16 and be delivered directly to the 'It is necessary in order to make perfect castings, and perform the work rapidly and with as little labor-as possible, to provide means for raising and lowering the upper apart the mold sections to remove the casting or to perform other needful work. The

die sections must also'be clamped and held tightly together whlle the castings are being made. To perform these different functions in a simple and effective manner, I provide a pair of knuckle-levers, each con'iprising a lower and an upper link 57 and 58. The lower links 57 are pivoted to the top of sup- .port 41 by pins 59, which pass through the ends of' the links and also through lugs 60 which are cast on the support. The upper die support 41, so as to open and spread ends of links 57 are forked to receive the two levers. The upper ends of the links-68 arepivotally connected to a rod 62, the opposite ends of which are supported by tiebars 64 which are adjustably mounted near the upper ends of the guide-rods 42.

65 represents a series of nuts employed for. adjusting and holding the tie-barsGsi in place. If dies of different thickness are used, the nuts 65 may be screwed upward or downward on the threaded portion of rods 42 to effect the proper adjustment of the knuckle-levers, so that when the links of the said levers are brought into true alinement, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 1, these lovers will exert a strongpressure downwardly against plates 41 and 86 and the upper die'section 35, which will bring the two sections tightlytogether, and hold them in such position until .the knuckle- ,links are shifted to the position shown by dotted line in Fig. 1 which raises the support 41, upper die-section 35, and lever '48 as indicated by the other dotted lines in the same figure.-

To'opera'te the knuckle-links 57 and 58, I provide a hand-lever 66 pivoted to the tie rod 62, a sufiicient distance'from its lower end to give the operator an advantage of the leverage. The lower'end of lever 66 is pivoted between a pairof links 67 by means of which said lever connects with the rod 61, to which the knuckle-links 57 and 58 are pivotally connected. The lever 66 is so positioned and connected that when the opmachine (Fig. 1) pulls said lever to the right, the links 57 and 58 are brought into vertical alinement, to close the sections of the die and hold them tightly together, and when lie-pushes the lever 66 toward the left, the pressure is relievedand the die-sections may be spread apart a sufiicient distance to allow the casting to be removed or the die to be replaced or repaired.

By the use of a casting apparatus, constructed and operated as shown and described herein, perfect 'oastings may be made with great rapidity at slight expense and with practically no loss of time.

l/Vhilc my apparatus is intended princi pally for use in making finished metal cast .ings, which are commonly made from metal Wl'llCli'fUSGS at a comparatively low temperature, I wish to include in the scope of the invention the production of castings of all grades and finish, and I also wish t5 reserve the right to modify or change the parts of the device in any manner not at variance with the spirit of my invention, as

the same is shown and described herein.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A castingapparatus, comprising a fireb'ox having an open top inclosed by a hinged cover, a casting cylinder secured to the underside of said cover and disposed in the fire-box, a melting-pot formed integrally with said cylinder, having an. open top to receive metal to be melted, and connected with the interior of said cylinder by a port disposed in the bottom of said cylinder, a discharge-tube formed integrally with said cylinder and connected with the interior thereof by a port, an independent heater for said discharge-tube comprising a gas burner consisting of a perforated inner tube and a plain outer tube disposed concentric with said discharge-tube, a. gas supply pipe connected to said plain tube, a nozzle formed upon a cap mounted upon and inclosing the upper ends of said heater tubes concentric with said discharge-tube, a die support mounted upon said cover and hinged thereto, a die comprising two sections, the lowermost section secured to said hinged support, the uppermost section sccuredto a second support slidably mounted upon guide-rods curried by said first support, a mold formed in said die sections and connecting with the casting cylinder by means of a port coinciding with the passage in said dischargetube, and .means comprising a pair of knuckle levers and a hand-l ver supported by said guide-rods for effecting the clamping and spreading apart of said die-sections, substantially as described.

2. A casting apparatus, comprising a furnace having an open top and' ahinged cover therefor, a casting cylinder disposed in said furnace secured to said cover and movable therewith, a plunger operatively disposed in said cylinder, means for operating said plunger by hand, a melting-pot formed integrally with said cylinder and. connected with the interior thereof by means of a port, a discharge-tube formed integrally on one end of the cylinder, a nozzle; formed on a cap mounted on the upper end of said dischargetube, a gas burner for. heating said di charge-tube and said nozzle, comprising a perforated tube disposed around said dis charge-tubcnnd a plain tube disposed around the said perforated tubc,a pipe connected to said plain tube .for supplying gas to said heater, a die comprising two sections, the lowermost section mounted upon a support hinged to said cover and movable there with, and also movable indcpclulently, the uppermost sccuon secured to the under side of a second support mounted upon guiderods carried by said first support, a port connecting said discharge-tube with a mold formed in said die-sections through which molten metal may be forced from the cylinder into said mold by the ope ation of: said plunger, a gate supported by said second support. adapted to close the port leadingto said mold after the latter has been filled with molten metal, a lever mounted on said second support for operating said gate, a gage to too lltl

one part supported by said cover and mo'vr-rable therewith, a plunger for said cylinder, meansfor operating said plunger, a discharge-tube cast integrally with and forming an outlet for molten metal forced from said cylinder by the plunger, a nozzle formed upon a cap mounted upon the upper end of .said discharge-tube, a heater for said discharge-tube and nozzle, comprising a gasburner disposed around said tube beneath said nozzle, a pipe for supplying gas to said burner, a support disposed above and hingedto said cover, a series of vertical guide-rods secured to said support, a second sup ort movable reciprocally on said-guide-ro s, a die comprising two separate sections, one section secured to the lower support, the

other section secured to and movable with the upper support, a mold cavity formed in the""abutt1ng faces of. SELId SGCtIOHS, a port ing with the casting cylinder by'means of the passage in sald discharge-tube and nozzle, agate operable in the port in said diesections adapted topermit or prevent the flow of molten metal into said cavity, a

pivoted, lever to operate said gate, a pair of tie-bars adjustably mounted on said guide- 40frods, a pair of knuckle-levers to effect the reciprocal movement of the second support and gripper die-section, the ,said knuckleleversconnected at their lower ends to said f fseoond support, their upper ends pivotally 15: connctedto said tie-bars, and a hand-lever supported by said tie-bars adapted to operi'atersaid knuckle-levers, substantially as de-.

scribed. y 4. In a casting apparatus, the combination '50 with a fire-box having an open top, a gas sup-' ply-pipe and an e xhaust pipe, of a casting- -cylinder disposed in the fire-box, a plunger f for said cylinder, a melting-pot formed 4 on fone side of said cylinder, a port to connect said pot with the interior of said cylinder, a molten metal discharge-tube formed upon the inner endof said cylinder, an independentgas-heater disposed around andconcenstantially as described.

trio with said discharge-tube, a. common cap mounted upon the top of said discharge-tube and inclosing the upper end of said heater, a nozzle formed on the upper face of said cap having a port registering with the opening in said discharge-tube, a sectional mold mounted upon a hinged-support disposed above said nozzle, 'a' port in said mold sections re istering' with the port in said nozzle,

a gate ispo'sed in the port in the upper seotionof said mold adapted to permit or prevent the passa e of molten metal to and from said'mol means for clamping and holdingsaid mold sections tightly together, while the metal is passing into the mold, and also for separating the said sections for the purpose of'removing the castings, and a locking member for holding the lower mold section and the nozzle taghtlyfltogether, sub- 5. A casting apparatus, comprising a fire I pot having an open top and a hinged cover therefor, a sectional mold mounted upon a support hinged .to said-cover, acastingmylinder in said fire-pot, a melting pot formed on the side of said cylinder, a port connecting said melting-pot and cylinder, a tubularextension formed on the top ofsaid cylinder for conducting molten metal from said cylinder to said mold, a gas-burner for heating g said tubl llar extension, comprising a perfopassmg through said sections and connectratcd tube and a plain-tube disposed outside of and concentric with said tubular-extensaid cylinderfor conductingmolten metal from said cylinder to said mold, and a gasburner comprising a perforated tube placedwithin a plain tube disposed concentric with said ('lischarge part, adapted to prevent the hardening of the metal and the clogging of ,Htlld discharge -'tube, substantially as described. v In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence. of two witnesses.

. ELBERT B. VAN \VAGNER. W'-itnesses WM. F. CANOUGH,

HARRY DE WALLAon. 

